Attack Records

Attack Records is a British record-label name with two principal periods of activity. It began in 1969 as an imprint operated within the Trojan Records organization, during the expansion of the British market for Jamaican popular music. In its original period, which ran until approximately 1980, the label released or was associated with recordings by artists from the reggae, ska, rocksteady and related Jamaican traditions. Its notable roster included The Pioneers, Gregory Isaacs, I-Roy, Big Youth and The Upsetters. This first phase positioned Attack as a specialist imprint within the broader network of labels that helped distribute Caribbean music to British audiences. The name was revived in 2003 by Sanctuary Records for a very different purpose. Sanctuary and British singer Morrissey used the previously established imprint as part of the arrangement intended to secure his return to the recording market. Morrissey reportedly objected to releasing material under the Sanctuary name, considering it unsuitable, so the Attack identity was brought back for his releases. The revival was centered on You Are the Quarry, Morrissey's 2004 comeback album. The album became the label's most commercially prominent release and sold more than 700,000 copies according to the cited reference material. During the revival period, Attack's associated roster also included Nancy Sinatra, Jobriath and Kristeen Young. The imprint therefore functioned less as a broad, continuously active label than as a vehicle used by Sanctuary for selected artist projects. Its modern identity was particularly tied to Morrissey's catalog and to the commercial and contractual strategy surrounding his return after a period without a major label home. In 2007, Sanctuary was acquired by Universal. Following the transaction, Morrissey moved to Decca Records. His final recording issued under the Attack name was Years of Refusal, released through a partnership involving Lost Highway Records in the United States. The release followed Morrissey's departure from Decca's US operation, which he criticized for inadequate promotion of his 2008 Greatest Hits album. After the Attack and Decca period ended, Morrissey was again without a worldwide label for a time before signing with Capitol in 2014. The available reference material does not establish a current operating structure, headquarters, website, ownership arrangement or active roster for Attack Records. Accordingly, the brand is best understood as a historically significant British imprint whose documented activity consists of an original Trojan-era run and a later Sanctuary-era revival.

Attack Records originated in Britain in 1969 as an imprint of Trojan Records. Its first life coincided with the growing visibility of Jamaican music in the United Kingdom and the extensive label infrastructure built to issue reggae, ska, rocksteady and related recordings. Rather than operating as a fully independent corporate label in the modern sense, Attack functioned within Trojan's broader recording and distribution system. The imprint's documented artists included The Pioneers, Gregory Isaacs, I-Roy, Big Youth and The Upsetters, giving it an association with both established vocal groups and influential Jamaican solo and studio artists. This original period continued until about 1980. The Attack name returned in 2003 after Sanctuary Records sought a suitable imprint for Morrissey's comeback. The singer was being brought back into the recording market after a period away from an established label relationship, and he reportedly disliked the idea of issuing the project under the Sanctuary name. Reusing Attack allowed Sanctuary to provide a distinct identity for the release while drawing on an existing label name with historical recognition. The revival's central release was You Are the Quarry, issued in 2004. Its strong performance made it the most visible modern association of the Attack brand; the cited account states that the album sold more than 700,000 copies for the label. The revived roster was not limited to Morrissey. Reference material names Nancy Sinatra, Jobriath and Kristeen Young among artists associated with Attack during this period. Nevertheless, the imprint's modern profile remained concentrated around selected projects rather than a documented, large-scale artist-development operation. Attack was consequently used as a project and catalog vehicle within Sanctuary's corporate structure. Sanctuary was sold to Universal in 2007. The change in ownership was followed by Morrissey's move to Decca Records. His last record under Attack was Years of Refusal, released through a partnership with Lost Highway Records in the United States. The release followed his departure from Decca's US activities, which he criticized for poor promotion of his 2008 Greatest Hits album. After this period he was again without a worldwide label for a time, before signing with Capitol in 2014. The available sources do not document a subsequent relaunch, present-day management team, independent corporate registration, current website or active roster for Attack Records. Its historical significance therefore rests on two distinct chapters: its original role in Trojan's British Jamaican-music catalog and its early-2000s revival as the imprint for Morrissey's commercially successful return.

1. 2007Sanctuary is acquired by Universal

   Universal purchases Sanctuary, and Morrissey subsequently moves to Decca Records.

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2. 2004You Are the Quarry is released

   Morrissey's comeback album becomes the imprint's best-known modern release.

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3. 2003The label is revived

   Sanctuary Records brings back the Attack name for Morrissey's return to recording.

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4. 1980Original operating period ends

   The original Trojan-associated phase of Attack Records runs through approximately 1980.

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5. 1969Attack Records begins as a Trojan imprint

   The label name enters documented use as an imprint of Trojan Records in Britain.

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A British specialist record-label imprint with roots in Jamaican music and a later high-profile revival focused on artist-led album releases, especially Morrissey's comeback work.

• You Are the QuarryStudio album2004

  Morrissey's 2004 comeback album and the defining release of Attack Records' revived Sanctuary-era identity. It was issued as the principal project for the reactivated imprint and reportedly sold more than 700,000 copies for the label.

• Years of RefusalStudio album2009

  A Morrissey album identified as his final record under Attack Records. In the United States it involved a partnership with Lost Highway Records and followed changes in the artist's relationship with Decca's US operation.

• Trojan-era Jamaican music catalogRecorded music catalog1969

  The original Attack imprint catalog consisted of recordings connected with Jamaican popular music, including reggae, ska, rocksteady and related styles. Artists associated with this period included The Pioneers, Gregory Isaacs, I-Roy, Big Youth and The Upsetters.

• 2007Universal acquires SanctuaryM&A

  Attack's revived operations were associated with Sanctuary Records, making Sanctuary's corporate ownership a significant event for the imprint.

  What changed. Universal purchased Sanctuary Records.

  Aftermath. Morrissey moved to Decca Records, and the Attack imprint's documented modern activity subsequently wound down.

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• 2003Revive the Attack imprint for Morrissey's comebackStrategy

  Sanctuary Records wanted to release Morrissey's comeback project, while the singer reportedly considered the Sanctuary name inappropriate for the release.

  What changed. The company reactivated the dormant Attack Records name and used it as the release imprint for Morrissey's new material.

  Aftermath. The strategy produced the label's most prominent modern release, You Are the Quarry, and re-established Attack in the public record.

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• 2009Years of Refusal is issued through an Attack and Lost Highway partnership

  Years of Refusal was identified as Morrissey's final record under Attack and was released through a partnership with Lost Highway Records in the United States.

  Product launch
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• 2007Sanctuary is sold to Universal and Morrissey moves to Decca

  Universal acquired Sanctuary, after which Morrissey shifted to Decca Records and the Attack revival entered its concluding phase.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 2004You Are the Quarry becomes Attack Records' major commercial release

  Morrissey's You Are the Quarry was released through the revived imprint and reportedly exceeded 700,000 copies in sales.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2003Attack Records is revived for Morrissey's comeback project

  Sanctuary Records revived the Attack name as part of the arrangement to sign and release Morrissey's comeback material.

  Product launch
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1. Attack Records